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If King, Latham and Braley each run for Senate, it will mean three open House seats next year — in a state with only four districts.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (Nev.) and other party leaders are encouraging senators who are going to retire to do so early in the cycle, aides said. Harkin joins Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) in announcing he will not seek another term.

Democrats’ focus now turns to Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.), an 89-year-old veteran lawmaker, and Sen. Tim Johnson (D-S.D.). Democratic strategists believe both men may retire rather than run again in 2014.

“I appreciate that Senator Harkin has made this decision so early in the cycle, giving us ample time to recruit a strong Democratic candidate for this seat,” Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee Chairman Michael Bennet said in a statement, which expressed confidence they can hold the seat.

Agriculture Secretary Bill Northey could get in, but he’s seen as having a better shot at running for governor in 2018.

There’s also some buzz about state Rep. Pat Grassley, the 29-year-old grandson of longtime incumbent Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley. But he could also run for one of the vacant House seats.

Party strategists said Vander Plaats might be the only of the above GOP candidates who could meaningfully cut into King’s base in a primary.

Republican Gov. Terry Branstad will be at the top of the ticket. He has already been raising money for his 2014 reelection bid. This should boost the GOP nominee’s chances in the fall. Mitt Romney lost the state, which he heavily targeted, by five points last November.

Latham, who beat Democratic incumbent Leonard Boswell by 8 points, issued a non-committal, two-sentence statement that keeps the door wide open to a Senate bid.

“Congressman Latham respects Senator Harkin’s decision,” emailed spokesman James Carstensen. “He looks forward to continuing to working with him and the rest of the Iowa delegation for the best interests of the people of Iowa over the next two years.”